DVDs in Review

Yellowbeard

Title: Yellowbeard (1983)

Release date: July 20 2009

Certificate: 12

Format: DVD

DVD RRP: £15.99

Rating: 3/5

'Yellowbeard' boasts an impressive cast (Graham Chapman, Peter Boyle, Cheech & Chong, Peter Cook, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Spike Milligan, James Mason and even a brief cameo from David Bowie), but for all of that initial promise, this eclectic tale of pirates searching for treasure is never really anything more than silly.

Legend has it that Cleese only agreed to be in it as a favour to fellow Monty Python member Graham Chapman (who plays the titular pirate) even though he considered to be the worst script he'd ever read. Perhaps this chain of favours extended until such a fantastic cast was drafted aboard.

The plot concerns Yellowbeard busting out of jail to hunt for treasure. The map has been printed on his son's head so he has to tag along, as do some other weird and occasionally wonderful characters.

Naturally there are others in pursuit looking to snag the gold for themselves but the plot simply isn't tight enough to maintain any real interest, nor are any of the characters well rounded enough.

Director Mel Damski simply can't keep so many diverse and talented stars on a tight enough leash (few directors could). Ensemble films are tricky at the best of times but without a decent script propelling them in the first place, it just becomes a bloated, attention-grabber of a film with jokes that only work because of the performers behind them.

It isn't a complete failure. It is fun, far-fetched and very breezy (much like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films - they are only really polished versions of films like 'Yellowbeard'). 'Yellowbeard' is recommended for its cast but not as a film in itself. The DVD is available through Optimum and contains just a trailer.